Andrew Luck rallies Colts to beat Giants, whose draft prospects get a boost in the process

NY Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley talks to reporters Wednesday about how he has grown as a player.
Art Stapleton, Staff Writer, @art_stapleton

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs in for a touchdown in front of Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018.(Photo: AJ Mast, AP)

The current Giants played well enough to win as well, but they couldn't stop Andrew Luck and the Colts from rallying late in desperation to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Luck fired a 1-yard touchdown pass to Chester Rogers with 55 seconds left as the Colts beat the Giants, 28-27.

The outcome certainly helped the Colts in their quest to make the postseason, ruining what had been a surprisingly dominant performance for Big Blue for more than three quarters. Eli Manning played exceptionally well in his first game at Lucas Oil Stadium since winning Super Bowl XLVI during the 2011 season.

But for the Giants (5-10), the future has always been about the big picture.

And when it comes to draft position, the Giants' climb back toward a Top 5 pick continues. They entered action Sunday projected for the eighth pick, but with wins by the Jaguars and Falcons, Big Blue should move up.

Fourth quarter

Lucas Oil Stadium may be known in these parts as The House That Peyton Built, but Eli Manning has owned the building the last two times he played here.

Manning has thrown for a touchdown and ran for another in the second half, becoming the oldest Giants player with a rushing score since Y.A.Tittle in 1964.

Pro Bowl kicker Aldrick Rosas has a pair of field goals and Evan Engram has stepped up in the absence of Rhett Ellison, who was ruled out with a concussion. Engram has five catches for 82 yards.

Halftime

The Colts are the team playing for its playoff life.

The Giants are the ones playing like it.

Saquon Barkley's touchdown run and Eli Manning's TD pass to reserve tight end Scott Simonson have the Giants out of the gates strong, up 14-0 on playoff hopeful Indianapolis, which entered having won seven of its last eight games.

The Giants lead 17-7 at halftime and receive the second half kickoff.

A key play on the Giants' second scoring drive was vintage Eli Manning.

With the play clock running down, apparent confusion with the receivers as to who was supposed to line up where and the Giants' sideline seemingly about to call timeout, Manning got the snap, sidestepped the rush ever so slightly and fired a 55-yarder to Sterling Shepard. Manning and the Giants cashed in with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Simonson.

Giants 7, Colts 0

Saquon Barkley came in needing 191 yards to become the third rookie in NFL history with 2,000 yards from scrimmage, joining Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James.

He capped off an impressive opening drive with his 14th touchdown in 15 games, and Pro Bowler Aldrick Rosas added the point-after kick as the Giants grabbed a 7-0 lead over the Colts with 8:11 left in the first quarter.

Pat Shurmur mixed up his play calling during an 11-play, 75-yard drive with runs for Corey Coleman and Evan Engram, whose 12-yard inside run set up a goal-to-go situation. The possession also included two strong throws by Eli Manning to Sterling Shepard, whose leaping receptions moved the chains.

Then it was Barkley's turn, and he bounced a simple 1-yard run to the outside and outran the defense to the left pylon for the score, his 10th rushing TD.

The Colts opened the game with a three-and-out on offense, curiously not running Marlon Mack once against a Giants' defense playing without two of its leaders, Alec Ogletree and Landon Collins.

Pregame observations

Kyle Lauletta might get another chance to prove he can learn and grow from his forgettable professional debut before this season is over, but that won't be Sunday.

The Giants have decided to leave Lauletta inactive again against the Colts, despite having been eliminated from playoff contention last week. This is the second consecutive game in which Alex Tanney and not Lauletta will serve as the backup to Eli Manning. Lauletta threw five passes and did not complete any in the fourth quarter of the Giants' 40-16 victory over the Redskins in Week 14.

In this September 10, 2006, Giants Eli Manning (10) passing before being hit by the Colts Gary Brackett (58) Sunday night at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford.(Photo: Beth Balbierz / The Record)

A pregame question for the Giants: Who steps in as the emotional leader in their pregame breakdown huddle? Alec Ogletree has been the mainstay with OBJ in there once or twice, if I recall. Both are home in NJ. Best guess would be Michael Thomas, although it would be notable if Saquon Barkley decided to step into that role.